John Abraham may visit Saints

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Originally Posted by FinSaint
Sharper and Brees aren't exactly good comparisons for Abrahams - an old player who got released in the middle of his contract.
Minnesota wanted to keep Sharper, but couldn't afford to. He was putting up good ...

Sharper and Brees aren't exactly good comparisons for Abrahams - an old player who got released in the middle of his contract.

Minnesota wanted to keep Sharper, but couldn't afford to. He was putting up good numbers for them through his contract, and would've probably continued to do so if he had re-signed with them.

Brees' situation with the Chargers is known by all of us, so there's no need to go over it again here, but I'd like to point out that he didn't have a history filled with injuries before the infamous shoulder injury, the surgery was done by the best in the business, and he passed the medicals before signing with the Saints.

From what I've gathered, Abrahams doesn't have the same type of character as Brees does when it comes to training and keeping himself in peak condition to avoid future injuries, so them being about the same age isn't really anything I'd consider as a favorable comparison to Abrahams.

Anyway, he might be a good veteran presence at vet minimum (I'm doubtful), but I'd prefer that roster spot to be filled by a young player who could be a future contributor in the black and gold.

We don't have time to wait on future contributors. We need people to contribute now. The Saints live and die with Drew Brees. His days are numbered. Our window is short. We need people who are ready to play now. Like I said, the man had 10 sacks. Will Smith is our highest paid defensive player, he had 6...and he was actually healthy.

We don't have time to wait on future contributors. We need people to contribute now. The Saints live and die with Drew Brees. His days are numbered. Our window is short. We need people who are ready to play now. Like I said, the man had 10 sacks. Will Smith is our highest paid defensive player, he had 6...and he was actually healthy.

I'm sorry, but that to me is just too shortsighted to my liking.

The "window" doesn't ever have to close if the franchise is smart about the moves it makes going forward - a big part of that is choosing the right free agents to sign to strengthen their roster and using the draft wisely to fill the holes left after free agency. A big part of this approach is to try and renew your player/prospect pool at a constant cycle, and that can be better done by adding younger players into the roster, who can potentially be signed below true market value while having them play their best football years with the franchise. Then see those players sign big contracts with other franchises while either receiving compensation for it or saving money by once again adding younger players into the roster with their best days still ahead of them. Now, I'm not discrediting the value of veteran players in the roster, because young players need role models from whom to learn what it takes to be a professional football player in the good sense, but I doubt a player like Abrahams is that type of a player - I'd much rather have someone like Vilma be that player.

This franchise doesn't live or die with Drew Brees, and IMO his days are certainly not numbered as you put it, but like any other player on a roster; he'll have to be replaced in the near future, but that day isn't here yet.

People act like he's been a beast for Atlanta... he's been there what 2 years and hasn't played a full season?
Also I'm sure sure why Drew's age always comes into play.... Like anyone here knows what he has left in the tank.

I see a lot of people pointing out the obvious. He's old... This is true, but he's still three times the player that Will Smith is. For the league minimum, you bet I'd bring him in. But that won't happen, so I'll still pass.

People act like he's been a beast for Atlanta... he's been there what 2 years and hasn't played a full season?
Also I'm sure sure why Drew's age always comes into play.... Like anyone here knows what he has left in the tank.

I don't like to come to the defense of a Falcons player (even though he's now a former Falcon), but this is not really an accurate assessment of Abraham.

He spent not 2, but 7 years in Atlanta. The only season he missed significant time was his first year with them in '06, when he played in just 8 games with 4 sacks.

If he wants to sign a 1 year deal for at, or very close to the minimum, why not? Again, I don't think he would come that cheap, so we most likely can't afford him, but no one can tell me the guy isn't way better than anything we have, even at age 34. If he were just a couple years younger I would say definitely go get him. At this stage though, he's going to play out 1 year deals until he's done.

Too much alternative cheaper much younger and hungrier talent in this year's draft and UDFA to even remotely consider this bag of bones.

I agree if you're talking long term. If we're talking about a 1 year stop gap, for the right price? He's a bit more than a bag of bones. It won't happen, but it's a better idea than restructuring Will Smith to play another lousy season for us. An idea which some amazingly think is actually a good one, for some reason.